USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 64
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674
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
to Dartmouth and lived there on his farm, " The Downs," till 1885 when he again came to New Bedford and remained until a fatal malady caused his death. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety in 1835, being one of its councilors and a prominent figure in the Bristol South District Medical Society, for which he acted as president during one term, and as treasurer for several terms. He prepared and read before the society, a paper, on "Puerperal Tetanus," which was subsequently published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Although Dr. Gordon was an ardent Republican throughout his life, and was always deeply concerned for the welfare of the government, he never sought political preferment, the only office he ever held being that of overseer of the poor of this city, which office he retained for seventeen years consecutively. He was one of the executors of the will of Sylvia Ann Howland, of this city, which attracted so much at- tention on account of the litigation attending its probate, and he was a large legatee. He died in New Bedford of heart disease, after an at- tack of an hour's duration, January 14, 1887.
Dr. John H. Mackie, was born at Plymouth, Mass., August 24, 1826, and died in New Bedford, March 5, 1891. He was a son of Dr. An- drew and Hetty Amelia (Bradford) Mackie, and his early education was secured at private schools and under private tutors. He studied medi- cine at the Harvard School and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, in 1850. In the same year he began the practice of his profession in New Bedford, where he gained a large circle of friends. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1850, and was one of the society's councilors for many years, and was chosen to represent it at the meetings of the Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York Medical Societies. He was also selected as a delegate from the State Society to the Interna- tional Medical Congress of 1876, and during the same year was chosen anniversary chairman of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and pre- sided at the annual dinner in Music Hall, Boston. Among other notable positions, Dr. Mackie held that of vice-president of the State Society in 1882, was president of the Bristol South District Society in 1863 and 1864, and president of the New Bedford Society for Medical Improvement in 1882. He was appointed consulting physician for St.
675
PERSONAL NOTES.
Joseph's Hospital in 1875 and held the position for many years. He was also an acting surgeon in the army during the War of the Rebellion. Dr. Mackie did creditable work as a quarantine physician and was active in securing the organization of the first board of health in New Bed- ford in 1879
Dr. William Howland Taylor was born in New Bedford, Mass., No- vember 28, 1853. Upon his graduation at the High School in this city he chose the profession of physician and surgeon, attended Harvard Medical College and studied medicine with Drs. A. Cornish and George T. Hough. He then entered New York University Medical College and graduated with honor in 1876, taking the " Loomis prize " for " Theory and Practice of Medicine." For a year and a half following he was at- tached to the third medical division of Bellevue Hospital, New York, after which he returned to his native city and established a large practice.
Dr. Taylor was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and at one time secretary of the Bristol South District branch. He was also at one time president of the New Bedford Society for Medical Im- provement. He succeeded Dr. Henry Johnson, as medical examiner for this district and was a member of the Massachusetts Medico- Legal Society, and a member of the New York Medico-Legal Society. He was visiting surgeon at St. Joseph's and a member of the medical board of St. Luke's Hospital in this city.
Dr. Taylor contributed to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal " A case of Delayed Putrefaction " in 1883, " A case of Infanticide " in 1885, and " Notes on the Lawton Murder " in 1886. He was recog- nized as one of the most skillful of the younger physicians of this city, and was also interested and prominent in the musical societies of the city and was a member of the " New Bedford Choral Association " and the " Rheinberger Club." He married Miss Elizabeth E. daughter of Capt. William T. Hawes, November 10, 1890, and died July 20, 1891, of pneumonia, aged thirty-seven years, after an illness of a few days. His early death was a sad shock to his many friends, and to the entire community. His remains are interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
The Homeopathic school of medical practice is and has been since the early days of its establishment in this country, represented in a creditable manner in New Bedford. It met with opposition here, as it did elsewhere ; but under the advancement of general knowledge and a better understanding of the principles underlying that school, most of the opposition has disappeared. Among its physicians, here and in most the cities, are to-day many of the most successful practitioners, who command and receive the confidence and respect of communities.
The first homeopathic physician to settle in New Bedford was Dr. Manning B. Roche, in 1841. He received very little encouragement at that time, but within a few years gained a large practice. He retired in 1861, on account of ill health, and died in Riverside, N. J., July 5, 1862. The fact that Dr. Roche met as little opposition as he did here is credited largely to the liberality and broad views of Dr. Lyman Bartlett, one of the leading physicians of the opposite faith. The cause of homœopathy gained a powerful impetus in this vicinity after 1842, by the unusual success of Dr. Ira Barnes, of Taunton, during an epi- demic of dysentery. He had formerly been an allopath, and was eventually expelled from the Massachusetts State Society. In the year 1850 Dr. G. Felix Matthes came to New Bedford. He was a graduate of universities at Halle and Wittenberg, in Europe (1836), and studied in that country two years after he graduated. Previous to coming here he practiced two years in Boston. He was an able man, a successful practitioner, and continued to enjoy the confidence of the community until his recent death. In 1852 Dr. Henry B. Clarke began practice here and soon acquired a large business. Dr. D. A. Babcock began here after he graduated from college in 1874 and remained four years, when he removed to Taunton.
We have in the foregoing pages given brief sketches of those de- ceased physicians who in the past were recognized as being foremost in their profession, and whose skill and character were widely known. For reasons well known to the medical profession we abstain from per- sonal mention of living physicians, further than to give the following list of those who are now in active practice here :
Members of the Massachusetts Medical Society .- Edward H. Abbe, Edward P. Abbe, John T. Bullard, W. A. Butman, A. Cornish, Stephen
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SUNDRY PHYSICIANS.
W. Hayes, F. H. Hooper, Garry de N. Hough, George T. Hough, Milton H. Leonard, W. J. Nickerson, A. M. Pierce, J. C. Pothier, Charles D. Prescott, William C. Sheehy, John Spare, William N. Swift, E. T. Tucker, J. J. B. Vermyne, Amos P. Webber, J. F. Weeks, Ed. ward M. Whitney.
Homoeopathic Physicians .- John C. Shaw, Charles R. Hunt, Charles L. Seip, B. C. Howland, E. H. Noble.
Other Physicians .- George P. Bailey, John H. Bennett, Juan F. Ben- nett, William G. Branscomb, James E. Brierly, William E. Brownell, Mrs. Ann H. Chase, Edward W. Dehn, William A. English, Julian A. Fortin, S. E. Knopp, William Lilley, C. F. Lussier, Mrs. M. A. Mann, Asa Messer, Louis Z. Normandin, James W. Owen, George S. Palmer, Ellis B. Perry, Charles A. Peterson, Immanuel Pfeiffer, William G. Potter, William C. Post, Joseph P. St. Germain, Harry L. Stevens, John Sweet, James F. Sullivan, Edwin E. Waite, S. W. Waters, Helen W. Webster.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
CHAPTER XXXÍ.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW BEDFORD.
The First Fire Engine, Independence No. 1 -Citizen No. 2 - The " Jolly Rope- maker," Phoenix No. 4 - Oxford No. 2 - Flood No. 1 of Fairhaven - Columbia No. 3 of Fairhaven - The Bedford Fire Society - Fire Districts and Firewards - Engines Nos. 3 and 4 - Mechanic No. 6 - Battering Rams - Columbian No. 5 - First Engine at the Head-of-the-River - Novelty No. 8 - Failure of Interest in Fire Matters - Re- organization - Philadelphia No. 7 - Hancock No. 9 and Franklin No. 10- Member- ship of Companies at Organization of City Government - Demoralization and Re- organization - Disastrous Fires - Ohio No. 3 - Disbanding of Columbian No. 5- Young Mechanic No. 6 -Veteran Association of Firemen - Palmy Days - Young America No. 8-Hook and Ladder Companies - The Introduction of Steam - On- ward No. 1 - Disbandment of Hand Engine Companies - Progress Steamer No. 2 - Excelsior Steamer No. 3 - Cornelius Howland No. 4 - Franklin Hose No. I - Fred- erick Macy No. 6-The Firemen's Mutual Aid Society - Firemen's Beneficial Asso- ciation - The Protecting Society - Hook and Ladder Truck No. 2 - La France Hook and Ladder Truck - Steamer No. 7 -- Boards of Engineers.
IN in the year 1772, 120 years ago, a fire engine was built in London by Richard Newsham. It was bought by Joseph Rotch, one of the original settlers of Bedford village, and was the first engine ever owned here for the extinguishing of fires. It was named "Independence, No. 1," and was located on the north side of William street, where now stands the building of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Co. This engine was supplied with double pumps, worked by side-brakes. The water supply was from buckets, INDEPENDENCE, NO. 1. Drawn from a pencil sketch by Mr. Elisha C. Leonard.) which every citizen was ex- pected to have in the house. Generally they were hung in a convenient position in the front hall, in readiness for immediate use. These expectations were not al-
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FIRST FIRE ENGINES.
ways realized, for these buckets frequently became the receptacles for all sorts of things. Tradition says that one citizen made his the depository for beans ; and on one occasion the engine was made useless because this individual, in his undue haste, emptied a quart of them into the pumps.
At a fire the engine was taken close to the building, and water was thrown through a flexible pipe attached to a tower placed over the pumps. Hose had not been invented in those primitive days. This old engine was in active use until 1814. The company that used it was in existence until 1834, when the fire department was organized under a State act.
The next engine, Citizen No. 2, was built by Philip Mason, of Phila- delphia, in 1802, and was purchased by the subscriptions of property owners and presented to the town. At the following town meeting the sum of $325 was asked for to build accommodations for the new engine and also for the hooks, ladders, etc., used in the fire service. This proposition was voted down as a " bad precedent " to increase taxes. The engine was, however, located in a building on the land now occu- pied by the custom-house.
In 1808 an English engine, built by Richard Newsham, of London, was bought in Boston. It had been attached to a ropewalk at the North end, and was called the " Jolly Ropemaker." When brought to Bed- ford village it was named Phoenix, No. 4, and located on the south side of William street, near Acushnet avenue. At this time the watch-house was located on the northwest corner of William and North Second streets. The town was under the care of a volunteer night-watch, who carried lanterns and announced with stentorian voice the hours of the night : "12 o'clock and all is well." The first firewards were appointed by the town in 1796. William Rotch, jr., Thomas Hazard, John How- land, Manasseh Kempton, with Jeremiah Mayhew and Abraham Smith, served in that capacity until 1802.
In 1805 Oxford village, Fairhaven, then a part of this township, pur- chased an engine (Oxford, No. 2) of Philip Mason, of Philadelphia. The funds were raised by subscription. It was located at first on Samuel Borden's land, opposite the old academy, and at a later period was moved to Oxford village.
680
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
The following men were chosen members of the engine company, and the list was " approbated " by the selectmen, Bartholomew Aiken and James Taber, October, 1, 1805: Bartholomew Taber, Reuben Jenne, Bartlett Allen, Seth Allen, Henry Parie, Noah Spooner, Ellery Tomp- kins, Elisha Taber, William Severance, Josiah Jenne, Seth Mitchell, Timothy Taber, John Crowell, Allen Crowell, Weston Jenne.
Land was given by Rowland Gibbs for the engine- house on condition that it be removed at " his pleasure." Whether he ever exercised his rights in the matter is not on record, but the engine itself was moved in great haste and secrecy. In the records for September 15, 1814, I find the following item :
" At a special meeting of the proprietors of Oxford engine, held at Nicholas Taber's home, it was voted 'that the engine be removed for safety,' and it was done without delay."
The cause of this mysterious action was this : The English sloop of war Nimrod was in the bay, and the inhabitants were quaking with fear that the British might land and loot the town. People hid their valuables in the woods and other out-of-the-way places, and hence the precaution of removing the engine.
The first engine owned in the lower village of Fairhaven was the Flood No. I. It was probably bought by the town as early as 1801, for Edward West has in his possession a bucket with num- ber and date painted on its sides. It was a bucket engine, with double pumps and end brakes, and was a valuable machine in its day.
In 1836, Messrs. Dyer & FLOOD NO. I .- FAIRHAVEN LOWER VILLAGE. From a sketch by Charles H. Gifford.) Richmond, of New Bedford, built for the town of Fairha- ven the first suction engine, the Columbia No. 3 at a cost of about $1,500. It proved to be a serviceable machine, and with the No. I and the Oxford engine furnished ample protection for many years, in ordinary fires; but when large conflagrations occurred on either side of the river, all the engines were brought into service.
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BEDFORD FIRE SOCIETY.
It was a great feat when either party could get "first water" on their neighbor's fire. This proved especially true of the Lindsey fire in 1811 when the Oxford engine came over from Fairhaven and played " first water." It has been bragged about ever since.
The Bedford Fire Society was formed March 4, 1807, with Joseph Ricketson moderator and Abraham Shearman, jr., clerk. A committee was appointed to form rules and regulations, which were adopted.
From a perusal of the records, faithfully and systematically kept, to the final dissolution of the society in October, 1861, it seems that the members were under strict discipline, as the following extracts indi- cates :
10th mo. 12, 1807 .- The committee have examined the state of buckets and bags and find them all in good order, except William Ross, Sands Wing, Benj. Lincoln.
1st mo. 11, 1808 .- The society find their bags and buckets all in good order except- ing Benj. Lincoln's bags, without strings. This gentleman was fined fifty cents for deficiency.
11th of 4th month, 1808 .- The committee report buckets and bags belonging to the society in good order, with the exception of one of Jahaziel Jenney's bags, the strings of which would not draw it up. Abraham Shearman, jr., Nathan Taber, Fred'k Mayhew, committee.
7th mo. 11, 1808 .- Simpson Hart, Job Eddy, Daniel Taber, Peleg Howland, Josiah Wood and Freeman Taber paid fines of fifty cents each for non-attendance at last meeting.
10th mo. 8, 1810 .- Peleg Howland's buckets were not hanging agreeable to regula- tions, and James Arnold's buckets were sitting on the floor without bags. They were each fined fifty cents for the above deficiencies.
1st mo. 13, 1812 .- Sands Wing paid fine, fifty cents, buckets and bags not being in their places.
In the records for 3d mo. '12, 1815, a committee reported that they found 230 buckets in the town, about enough to serve efficiently one line of 400 feet.
In 1802 the town was divided into fire districts, and the board of firewards consisted of :
Southwest District (New Bedford). William Rotch, jr , Ab'm Smith, Thomas Hazard, John Sherman, Daniel Ricketson, Cornelius Grinnell, William Ross, James Howland.
Southeast District (Fairhaven). Jethro Allen, Noah Stoddard, Nicholas Taber, Joseph Bates These, with Isaac Shearman and Thomas Nye, jr., served till 1809. The board of firewards for 1809 were Caleb
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Congdon, Cornelius Howland, Seth Russell, jr., Henry Beetle, Luther Williams, John Alden, Kelley Eldredge, John Delano, Joseph Church, and, with Peter Barney, William Kempton, Peleg Jenney, Benjamin Howland, they served in that capacity until 1814. Abraham Gifford, John A. Parker, James Howland 2d, Samuel West, Benjamin Lincoln, James Arnold, Charles Church, Zachariah Hillman, Andrew Robeson, Reuben Russell, John Ruggles, Josiah Wood, William James, Edward Wing, Ichabod Clapp, Nathaniel Nelson, Levi Standish, Joseph Bourne and Benjamin Howland served from 1815 to 1821. Jannary 23, 1819, two tub engines, Nos. 3 and 4, were purchased of Hunneman & Co., Roxbury, for $900, the purchase being made by the following commitee : James Howland 2d, Timothy Delano, Gideon Howland, jr , John Coggeshall, jr , John A. Parker. The department now consisted of five engines, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the " Jolly Ropemaker."
The first fire in the place occurred on September 6, 1820, and caused considerable uneasiness over the want of adequate means for protection. The result was the appointment of John Arnold, Dudley Davenport, and Timothy Delano, who purchased in 1821, the first suction engine in the village, the Cataract, from Philadelphia, at a total cost of $1,375. The name of the engine was changed soon after its arrival to Mechanic No. 6. It was a powerful machine and an important addition to the equipment.
In 1812, battering rams were ordered by the town meeting for the use of the fire department. They were heavy sticks of timber, about twenty feet long, so fitted and arranged that a number of men could easily handle them in tearing down buildings. They were of considerable importance, for it was frequently the case that buildings were destroyed to stop the progress of fire.
In 1826 a contract was given to Timothy Delano and James Durfee for a suction engine, Columbian, No. 5. It was a bold venture for our resident mechanics to undertake so important an affair. When we remember that John Agnew, of Philadelphia, was the chief builder in the country (his only rival being Hunneman, of Roxbury), we can more readily appreciate the responsibility these citizens took upon them- selves.
Columbian No: 5 was accepted by the town February 28, 1827, at a total cost of $762. It proved a credit to the skill of its makers and
683
FAILING ENTHUSIASM.
ranked beside the best Agnew engines. With its contemporary, Mechanic No. 6, it was a conspicuous part of the fire department for the next forty years. They were both located in the same house on Purchase street, and between them rose a spirit of rivalry, which soon extended to all sections of the department.
The first engine placed at the Head-of-the-River was in 1821 or 1822. It was a bucket machine and operated with a flexible pipe from the tower, the same as described of Independence No. 1. At the first trial Foreman Samuel Pierce stood on top of the tower, directing the stream of water at his pleasure, when the pipe burst at the butt, and he encount- ered the whole force of the water in such a manner as to actually lift him in the air. It is not recorded how many feet the engine played on this trial, but the feat performed proved it to be a powerful machine. It was in service till about 1828, when it was wrecked. This bucket machine was soon replaced by the Hunneman tub No. 3, from New Bedford. This engine was eventually sold to the town of Fairhaven for $150, and a company was organized and continued in existence until Acushnet was set off as a separate town. Several years later the engine was broken up and sold. The Citizen No. 2 also did long service at the Head-of-the-River and was replaced June 8, 1860, by Hancock No. 9. which is still in use there.
The first general celebration of the Fourth of July occurred in 1835, in which the fire department appeared for the first time in parade.
The Novelty No. 8 was built by Mr. William Durfee, and purchased by the town March 23, 1835, for $450. It was furnished with rotary pumps, worked like the capstan of a ship, the men pushing the bars having a jolly " walk-around." This was fine exercise on a cold night, but it must have been wearisome in the warm summer days. This was a powerful machine, one of the most useful in its day.
In 1837 there was apparent a lack of enthusiasm in the department which eventually became alarming. In that year the firewards resolved to accept the services of any citizens who would volunteer their aid "in the present emergency," and for a time the conditions were more hopeful ; but in 1840-41 the department had again lapsed into an un- satisfactory date. The hook and ladder company had dwindled in numbers, until there were not enough members to draw the truck, and
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
horses had to be provided by the firewards. The whole department soon became demoralized, calling for the following statement from the firewards in 1841: "That the New Bedford fire department as at present organized has failed to accomplish the design for which it was established." This state of affairs led to a thorough reorganization of the department in April, 1842, with a force of 378 men, each being entitled to $10 a year for his services. This plan was favorably received and its wisdom soon became manifest, for the companies were rapidly filled with efficient men. During the year 1842 numerous fires occurred, none of which, happily, were very destructive ; but their prevalence be- came alarming to an extent that led the selectmen to increase the watchmen, and to recommend an increase in the number of engines, for which purpose $3,000 were appropriated.
The Philadelphia No. 7, built by Messrs. Merrick & Agnew, had proved so satisfactory that two of their engines were contracted for, and in 1843 Hancock No. 9, and Franklin No. 10, were received and placed in commission.
Membership in these companies was eagerly sought and they were soon filled with excellent material.
A fire on the 30th of January, 1844, destroyed Samuel Leonard's oil works, causing a loss of about $60,000. The department was greatly hampered by ice and bitter cold weather. The Fairhaven engines came across the river on the ice.
In September, 1844, occurred the first parade and festival of the department. A procession in which all the engines joined was under direction of Chief Engineer William H. Taylor and Zachariah Hillman, and marched through the principal streets to a lot on County street, where a chowder was served. Addresses were afterwards delivered in the town hall. A similar and more pretentious festival was held in the following year.
Following is a statement of the membership of the various companies just before the organization of the city government in 1847 :
Engine company No. 1, twenty men ; No. 2, fifty; No. 3, twenty- five; No. 4, twenty-five; No. 6, sixty ; No. 7, fifty ; No. 8, forty ; No. 9. fifty ; No. 10, fifty ; Hook and Ladder Company, thirty ; Protecting Society, fifty.
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DISBANDMENT AND DIFFICULTIES.
Besides, the company of No. II, purchased of Merrick & Agnew in 1846, numbered fifty men. This engine was located on the south side of Middle street, just above County street.
After the formation of the city government, dissatisfaction arose over the amount of money paid to the firemen, and an active discussion fol- lowed. It resulted in the voluntary disbandment of the companies, August 7th, attached to Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and the Hook and Ladder Company. The practical result of this action was that the fire department became thoroughly paralyzed, and the city was left unpro- tected for a time. Soon, however, new companies were obtained for Nos. 7, 10 and II, and finally the whole department was reorganized, the dissatisfied members withdrawing from membership.
May 18, 1848, occurred the Dudley Davenport fire, which destroyed about $30,000 worth of property. The fire commenced about 10 o'clock in the evening and was one of the fiercest ever experienced in our his- tory. Mr. Davenport's steam planing mill, lumber yard, grocery store, dwelling-house belonging to William Rotch, and other buildings were burned.
On January 28, 1850, a disastrous fire occurred in Tallman's block, on Union street, Messrs. George M. Eddy & Co. being burned out. A sad event at this conflagration was the death of Timothy Tallman, and aged and well known citizen. He occupied a room in the upper story, and was smothered by the dense smoke.
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